Adversity In The Old Man And The Sea

“He did not truly feel good because the pain from the cord across his back had almost passed pain and into dullness that he mistrusted.”(74) Once both the fish and Santiago had reached the breaking point of conflict the story seemed to slow down in time to exemplify the adverse conditions that both characters were suffering from. The old man proves himself worthy of personal suffering with the cuts and scars on his hands and back along with all of the pulling and slipping the cords had upon his fragile body. Hemmingway shows in a big way how an out of proportioned conflict with an old fisherman and an 18 foot long marlin helps to magnify the significance of Santiago searching for his rebirth to manhood. With constant abstraction describing the fish and the sea in relation to brotherhood create interesting questions for Santiago to ponder. His rationalization for his fishing is that he was born to do it. “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.” (103) Hemmingway proves that this fish represents all of Santiago’s built up tension to total the size of a gigantic marlin that is perceived as devastating but not unconquerable. The old man’s hopes and aspirations can overcome the adversity of the marlin’s size, along with the conditions of the old, hungry, and exhausted fisherman. Through outright suffering Santiago achieves a goal above his previous manhood by combating pain and

Even though he is an adolescent boy, Manolin loves spending time with Santiago. He loves to go out fishing with him but, his parents no longer will let him. The reason for this is because Santiago has not caught a fish for eighty-four days. As a result of this unfortunate occurrence, others deem Santiago the term salao, or the worst kind of unlucky. Knowing the struggle Santiago is facing, Manolin tries to help him in as many ways as possible. Manolin brings Santiago drinks, food and the newspaper so they can talk about baseball and the great Joe DiMaggio. In spending all this time with the old man, Manolin develops a form of respect for him. He comes to understand that despite the recent unlucky situations, Santiago remains hopeful as well as prideful. This is why Manolin looks up to the old man so much. “Santiago… I could go with you again. We have made some money. The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him” (Hemingway 10). Along with just loving Santiago for himself, Manolin also looks up to him because Santiago taught him how to fish. Manolin understands that he is a large part of Santiago’s life and feels honored and

Manolin is very devoted to the old man. Though he is not allowed to go fishing with Santiago, he aids the old man however he can. “’Keep the blanket around you,’ the boy said. ‘You’ll not fish without eating while I’m alive,’” (Hemingway 19). This statement uncovers how much Manolin cares for the old man. Manolin wants to be there for the old man, however difficult it may be for him. The two characters divulge a bond that is unbreakable because of how much they love and care for each other. Though Santiago is not able to fish as well as he used to, Manolin still believes in him. Manolin has faith in Santiago and that is root of their relationship. “’Que va,’ the boy said. ‘There are many good fishermen and some great ones. But there is only you,’” (Hemingway 23). Manolin’s devotion to Santiago highlights the old man’s values and beliefs as a fisherman and as a person. Manolin admires the old man and cannot contain his love for Santiago. He sees himself reflected in Santiago, which is why he has an abundant amount of love for him.

The novel written by Ernest Hemingway tells the story of an old fisherman named Santiago (referred to as "the old man") and his quest of catching a fish. Unfortunately, the old man has been down on his luck and has been fish-less for eighty-four days. The next time the old man leaves for a fishing trip, he sets sail farther than any fisherman has ever gone before, and he refuses to go home until he has proven to himself and to society that he is more than an average old man. However the old man is forced to overcome many challenges on his quest. His old age hinders him drastically and when he is finally able to get a fish on his line, he is not strong enough and is unable to reel the fish in. On the third day of the fishing expedition as the old man continues to struggle with the fish (a large marlin), he begins to reflect on the nature of the universe and his low place in society. The old man begins to feel pity for the fish, however also feels an unflagging determination to kill

Throughout the journey, Santiago encountered many struggles and hardships, however he never gave up. Throughout The Old Man and the Sea Hemingway wants to show Santiago’s perseverance and Santiago as Christ. Santiago is faced with many struggles throughout his journey of catching the marlin yet he preservers through his struggles. Santiago was once known as the champion fisherman by locals, however he had not caught a fish for eighty-four

Though Santiago was humiliated and discriminated by the society for not getting single fish, he never got discouraged to fulfill the success. Even though Santiago is skilled fisher man, he remains eighty four days without a fish. According to the text, ? But after forty eight days without a fish the boy?s parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is consider as the worst form of unlucky?, (pg.5). It depicts the struggles he underwent in his life.

Santiago is an old fisherman who has the worst of luck. He goes out fishing every day but comes home to his shack empty handed. “I could just drift, he thought, and sleep and put a bight of line around my toe to wake me. But today is eighty-five days and I should fish the day well. Just then, watching his lines, he saw one of the projecting green sticks dip sharply," (Hemingway 13). This quote reveals much about Santiago and the theme of the book. It has been eighty-five days since

Hemingway is known for his heroic code in his novels, and the Old Man in the Sea is no different. Throughout the novel Santiago experiences several moments of truth. He also demonstrates the way to stay composed when he finally catches a fish. Finally, Santiago is destroyed, but he will not be defeated. Therefore, through the whole novel Hemingway uses Santiago to express the ideals of manhood.

A quote from the first page of the actual story is ¨... the old man was definitely and finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky,¨ In the beginning of the novella, everyone sees Santiago as hopeless and nothing more or less than a lost cause. They believe he will never catch a fish again. Santiago disregards everyone’s thoughts and criticism and simply decides to work harder than and sail out farther than usual to accomplish his goal

II. Hemingway romanticizes Santiago’s struggle with the marlin and expresses elements of the Old Man’s humanity to have the reader both emphasize with him and admire his sense of determination and heroism. A. In the novel, The Old man is an elderly fisherman who has befriended a young boy named Manolin. Besides Manolin, the Old Man, named Santiago, has little social interaction and suffers ostracization from those in his community.

Santiago of The Old Man and the Sea is the quintessential “Hemingway Hero”-a type of fictional character created by Hemingway in all of his books whose basic response to life appealed very strongly to the readers. The Old Man begins the narrative with all the elements of such a hero despite his senescence and poverty. He shows strength, determination, and dedication to himself despite his struggles. Santiago relates back to readers as a strong failure who picks himself up repeatedly.

It is ambiguous whether the old man succeeds or fails. At first, it seems that if Santiago has failed. “He sailed lightly now and he had no thoughts nor any feelings of any kind” (Hemingway 119). It is almost like he has lost everything that he has worked for. The old man accepts defeat as is, without mourning or grief Fortunately, after all the damage has been taken, he keeps fishing. He built some sort of relationship with the marlin, but was later broken. He has since moved on.

The nobility of character of the old man prevents him from feel hate and rancor toward the other fishermen. Despite the taunts of the other fishermen, Santiago is quiet and admits having a bad streak of luck. This makes him an honorable man, which avoids any conflict and is able to recognize his flaws as a fisherman. Although the sea has given him several bitter drinks, he is able to keeping on loving it. “A man is honest when he acts honestly, he is humble when he acts humbly, he loves when he is loving or being loved.” (Waldmeir 165). Perhaps, the crowning act of humility in Santiago is when he is forced to recognize that by his own forces he will not be enough to grab the fish, and decides to carry out prayers to the Almighty. At the end of the hunting of the big animal, Santiago does not become conceited. His simple and humble soul thanks with a prayer for the outcome of his effort. Although the fighting has been severe and bloody, the old man was not self-styled "hero”. Santiago humbly considers himself as one fisherman more, and the categorization as a hero depends on the readers. “It is the knowledge that a simple man is capable of such decency, dignity, and even heroism, and that his struggle can be seen in heroic terms, that largely distinguishes this book.” (Young 131). The evident relation between his humility and dignity helps to place Santiago as a perfect

Over and over again he is remarked to be a strange old man, and he himself is the one to glorify that. He seems to struggle with the fact that he must prove himself to the other fisherman who mock him and believe him to be a fallen hero. He sets off to sea in his boat one day, but what he does not know that it will be the three most tiring days of his life. He first catches a smaller fish and instead of turning back, he decides to go farther out into the ocean to see what he can catch with that fish. He soon is dragged all over and back by a shiny purple marlin, that is two feet longer than his skiff. The response to Santiago’s poor decision or lack of creativity to harpoon the marlin instead of try to kill it another was as to not attract mako sharks was confusing. He is shown to be a man of intelligence and greatness, yet his decision to kill the marlin in this manner knowing what could happen proves that he had a distinct motive for harpooning the fish. By the words of Gery Brenner, “that motive is self validation-the need to prove himself”(Brenner 55). In the end, after the three day struggle, when Santiago returns to the dock, he is told by Manolin later that he was said to be lost at sea, and everyone was completely taken away by the length of the mangled carcass that he brought in. The take many get from Hemingway’s novel is

There are many ways that someone can show bravery. Someone could do grand things such as running into a burning building , but they can also do simple but significant things, such as withstanding a lot of struggle. In Ernest Hemingway’s novel, The Old Man and the Sea, Santiago the protagonist, shows both grand and simple acts of bravery. Santiago undergoes a lot of things that tested both his mental and physical strength, but he never shows weakness or struggle. He was an example of bravery by not showing fear in the face of danger and enduring the hardship of his daily life.